Gloucester beat unbeaten Biarritz
Bryan Redpath’s Gloucester brought Biarritz’s unbeaten Heineken Cup run to a crashing end on Saturday with the Cherry and Whites recording an impressive 23-8 win over the Pool Two high-flyers.
Leading the match 13-3 at half time, the home side were the first team on the board thanks to a Nicky Robinson penalty after 11 minutes.
England international Lesley Vainkolo was the man to come to the fore then. The former Rugby League star scored his first Heineken Cup try of the season with 20 minutes gone.
Biarritz, resting a couple of their star players for the trip to England, opened their account with a Valentin Courrent penalty after 27 minutes before, seven minutes from the break, Robinson added another three pointer for Gloucester.
An early second half penalty from Robinson got the ball rolling again but it was centre Tim Molenaar’s try after 66 minutes which made the game safe for Gareth Delve and his troops.
France star Imanol Harinordoquy scored a consolation try for the visitors five minutes from time but the damage was done and Gloucester, having struggled with inconsistent form all season, had claimed the prize scalp of the inform French side.
For Gloucester
Tries: Vainikolo, Molenaar
Pen: Robinson
Cons: Robinson
For Biarritz
Try: Harinordoquy
Pen: Courrent
The teams:
Gloucester:15 Olly Morgan, 14 James Simpson-Daniel, 13 Tim Molenaar, 12 Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu, 11 Lesley Vainkolo, 10 Nicky Robinson, 9 Rory Lawson, 8 Gareth Delve (c), 7 Akapusi Qera, 6 Alasdair Strokosch, 5 Alex Brown, 4 Dave Attwood, 3 Greg Somerville, 2 Scott Lawson, 1 Alasdair Dickinson.
Replacements: 16 Darren Dawidiuk, 17 Nick Wood, 18 Pierre Capdevielle, 19 Adam Eustace, 20 Luke Narraway, 21 Dave Lewis, 22 Freddie Burns, 23 Tom Voyce.
Biarritz Olympique: 15 Paul Couet-Lannes, 14 Takudzwa Ngwenya, 13 Arnaud Mignardi, 12 Ayoola Erinle, 11 Ilikena Bolakoro, 10 Valentin Courrent, 9 Yann Lesgourgues, 8 Imanol Harinordoquy, 7 Samiu Vahafolau, 6 Magnus Lund, 5 Manuel Carizza, 4 Jérôme Thion, 3 Rémy Hugues, 2 Romain Terrain, 1 Eduard Coetzee.
Replacements: 16 Benoit August, 17 Yvan Watremez, 18 Mosese Moala, 19 Trevor Hall, 20 Fabien Alexandre, 21 Benoit Guyot, 22 Laurent Tranier, 23 Nicolas Brusque,
Referee: George Clancy
